KAMPONG Ayer has been known for centuries for its beauty and uniqueness since 500 years ago. Beautiful houses were built above water since time immemorial with some having been passed down from one generation to another.

The history of Kampong Ayer is rich in cultural heritage with each village upholding their own specific tradition. Kampong Sungai Kedayan was well known for their goldsmith skills; Kampong Sumbiling Lama was the site of the ‘Istana Lama’; Kampong Ujong Tanjong was famous for their basket-making skills using rattan; and Kampong Bukit Salat was where villagers would go to make wedding dresses.

In the early 2014, notices containing list of villages to be demolished were issued and in within a few months’ time, demolition work began in stages starting from Kampong Sumbiling Lama, Kampong Bukit Salat, Kampong Sungai Kedayan and Kampong Ujong Tanjong.

By the end of 2014, all the houses in the listed villages were gone.

It is now hoped that a heritage centre will be built to prevent our culture from being lost in time as well as to serve as the main visiting place in Brunei for tourists.

DESPITE first making its appearance in the Sultanate during the 1940s, Kuih Mor continues to be a household favourite today as a tea time snack or festive treat particularly during Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.

Siti Norhafizah Hj Bagol, a final year student at Universiti Brunei Darussalam who researched on Kuih Mor as part of her Brunei Traditional Industry module, said the three-ingredient sweet treat may have existed in Brunei as early as the 1940s when padi was known to have been grown to make different food items.

Over time, the cookie has also become a popular door-gift choice often handed out at Malay weddings or gatherings, said Siti Norhafizah.

Made with flour, oil and granulated sugar which have been ground into a powder, the bite-sized biscuits have a crumbly texture and are coated with powdered sugar.

The age-old technique of making Kuih Mor by hand has however changed over the course of time, with many now opt…

BY COMMAND of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister’s Office hereby announces that His Majesty has consented to the transfer and appointment of the following senior officers – Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid, Permanent Secretary (Law and Welfare) at the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau and Solicitor General has been transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; and Datin Elinda binti Haji CA Mohamed, Special Senior Duties Officer, Ministry of Home Affairs has been appointed as Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau.